Stockport-based accountancy firm HURST will be supporting Manchester charity 42nd Street, after having named the organisation charity of the year. 

The firm will undertake some fundraising efforts, with a number of staff set to take part in the Great Manchester Run this year. HURST provided us with more information in the statement below:  

By HURST

An organisation which supports young people experiencing issues with their mental health and emotional wellbeing is in line for a boost after being chosen as the charity of the year by staff at accounting and business advisory firm HURST.

42nd Street is supporting growing numbers of people with its range of free and confidential services, including one-to-one counselling, group work, online sessions, cognitive behavioural therapy and creative activities at The Horsfall, the charity's bespoke gallery space.

The Manchester-based charity supported over 6,500 people last year – an increase of 30% over the previous 12 months.

Since its inception in 1980, it has helped 65,000 individuals, of whom 20,000 have benefited in the past four years alone.

Its team of counsellors, therapists and workers work with people aged 11-25 to understand the issues they face and develop positive coping strategies. 42nd Street is partially funded by the NHS, but is also heavily reliant on donations.

The Horsfall offers creative, art-based programmes where young people can work alongside established and emerging artists to explore and share their stories and express themselves, as part of the charity's approach to develop positive mental health and wellbeing.

HURST chief executive Tim Potter said staff were keen to support a mental health charity, particularly as the issue has come to the fore due to the pandemic.

The firm's fundraising efforts will include a number of staff taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run later this month.

Tim said: "42nd Street does wonderful work alongside the NHS in providing valuable mental health services to young people, something that is needed now more than ever in the wake of the pandemic.

"Being part of the local community in Greater Manchester is really important to us, so we love it when we are able to show our support by having the opportunity to work with good causes that give back to the community."

HURST has raised £75,000 for good causes in the past seven years. Most recently, in 2021 and 2022, it supported Willow Wood Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Simone Spray, chief executive of 42nd Street, said: "The charity has had more young people than ever before asking for support over the last year, and so the support from HURST couldn't be better timed.

"We are extremely grateful to them for choosing us as their charity of the year and we are really looking forward to supporting them in some exciting fundraising activities and getting to know them as partners over the next year; everyone says 42nd Street is like a family, so we are delighted to welcome the HURST team to the family."

Simone Spray has expressed her delight at the support from HURST (Image - HURST)

Young people accessing services and support from 42nd Street have told how the charity has helped improve their lives.

Princess Arinola, one of those accessing The Horsfall space, said: "I love working with The Horsfall. The staff are open-minded and kind, always sharing knowledge and happy to answer any questions. It's a beautiful space to work in and I've had a lot of fun making work that means a lot to me at The Horsfall. Any time I do a project at The Horsfall it feels like I'm doing an act of self-care."

Another young person said: "I was told 42nd Street was somewhere that can help you and make you feel special, and that's exactly what they did."